There isn’t much in the liner notes to suggest that “Cowboy
Soul” is a history lesson, designed to elucidate the public
to the role of the African American Cowboy. For that, you must
look elsewhere.

Apart from a few introductions, there isn't much on the shiny
side of this disc to suggest that this is Country Music. There
is the sound of a train at the end of one track, crickets chirping
on another. Neither does much to reinforce the notion that this
is Country Music; Soul, Funk or otherwise.

“Country Soul” sounds like The Temptations meet
The Chambers Brothers meet Bob Willis. This recording is a Broadway
score, just waiting for a script and a director.

That being said, this is some dang good music, pardner. The
lead vocals are strong and soulfully beautiful; the harmonies
are what the late Mary Rudy would describe as “right in
the pocket.”

The compositions are well written, with lyrics full of social
relevance and some dang good love songs, to boot. All of the
tunes are up tempo, either sweet love songs, full of joy and
celebration, or gentle laments.

The execution is flawless. The guitars are intricate and diverse,
mixed precisely with the hard driving bass and keyboards. Cowboy
Soul consists of:

Mike Mann—Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Harmonica

Keith Roger Washington—Vocals/Bass

Tracy Hill—Drums

Mark Drummond—Lead and Rhythm Guitars/Vocals/Programming

Ted Cooper—Vocals/Tambourine

Duane Laskey—Keyboards

Rei Williams—Keyboards

While the premise of this CD is ambiguous to this reviewer,
the music certainly is not. Whenever you have good writers and
composers, excellent musicians and vocalists combined with expert
producers and engineers, good things are bound to happen.

So, saddle up Old Paint, git them doggies movin’ and
take a gander at: